Intrinsic Muscle Development - Page 21 of 24

Squeeze Slot Mail Drop

Steps:

Use markers to color several index cards brightly. You can also cut simple shapes from construction paper and tape them onto the cards.
Place long strips of masking tape across the top opening of the container. Crisscross the tape strips to create a very tight, narrow slot in the center.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly with their non-dominant hand. This stabilizes the toy for the working hand.
Pick up one index card. Encourage your child to squeeze the card flat lengthwise using their fingertips.
Challenge them to push the squeezed, flat card straight through the narrow, resistant tape slot. Repeat this until all the mail is successfully delivered.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required during this activity. Ensure the child remains focused on the task and does not attempt to ingest any pieces of masking tape or paper.

Vertical Tape Relief

Steps:

Secure a flat piece of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door at your child’s eye level. Use extra masking tape to anchor it.
Use markers to draw a simple picture or design, like a big tree or an animal shape, on the cardboard.
Give the child long strips of masking tape. Encourage them to tear the tape into many small, 1-inch squares.
The child should use both hands for tearing. Drop the finished small pieces into the plastic container.
Pick up one small tape piece using only the thumb and pointer finger (pincer control).
Challenge your child to press the sticky side of the tape piece firmly onto the drawn shape. Strong, controlled pressure is needed.
Continue layering the tape pieces until the entire drawing is covered, creating a textured relief artwork. Add stickers for eyes or details.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Ensure the vertical cardboard is secured firmly to prevent it from falling. Always monitor children to ensure they do not attempt to place torn tape pieces in their mouths.

Screw Tower Twist

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use a pencil to poke 4 to 6 holes in the cardboard. The holes should be slightly smaller than the bolts for good resistance.
Place the cardboard on the table. Use the marker to draw a simple circle around each hole to create a target zone.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with one hand (the helper hand) to stabilize it on the table.
Using their dominant hand, push a bolt straight through a target hole until only the threads stick out the back.
Carefully thread a matching nut onto the bolt. Use repeated forearm twisting (like turning a key) to tighten the nut down to the cardboard surface.
Once the nut is tight, try unscrewing and removing all pieces to repeat the challenge.

Safety Tip:
Nuts and bolts are very small and pose a choking hazard. Always supervise the child closely during this activity. Ensure all pieces are collected and stored safely after playtime.

Coil Wrap Precision

Steps:

Use markers to color the craft sticks with different patterns or colors. This makes the finished product more visually appealing.
Place the colored craft stick flat on the table and hold it firmly with your helper hand to keep it from rolling (proximal stability).
Take one pipe cleaner. Use the fingertips of your dominant hand to tightly wrap the pipe cleaner around the craft stick, creating neat, tight coils.
Try to wrap the coil as close and tight as possible. When one pipe cleaner is finished, secure the end and wrap a new one until the stick is covered.
Open the container of small stickers. Use your precise pincer grasp to peel one sticker off the backing.
Challenge yourself to place the small sticker exactly onto one of the tight pipe cleaner coils. Use a firm press to secure it. Fill the coils with colorful stickers!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the child maintains good seated posture (feet flat on the floor) to support the fine motor movements. Check the ends of the pipe cleaners for sharp edges before starting.

Confetti Rainmakers

Steps:

Invite your child to select several colors of construction paper. Their first job is to use the hole puncher to create a big pile of ‘rain’ or confetti. Encourage them to use both hands to stabilize the paper and squeeze the puncher with strength (great for hand intrinsic muscles!).
Place the paper cup next to the confetti pile. Challenge your child to use the tongs to pick up each tiny piece of confetti and drop it into the cup. This requires slow, careful pincer control and focus!
When the cup is full, encourage your child to stand up and hold the cup high above their head. Then, they can gently tilt it to make the colorful ‘confetti rain’ fall down, providing visual and proprioceptive input before repeating the scooping process.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the hole puncher is used correctly and supervise closely to prevent pieces of confetti from being placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.